Exactly what we need in gray, mid-winter Washington:  Two days of Lou Harrison!  The great California composer (1917-2003) drew on an array of exotic materials, including Indonesian gamelan music, to achieve a gorgeous synthesis of West and East.  Balm for the ears, warmth for the soul, and food for the mind.

The Indonesian Embassy kicks the mini-festival off on Friday night with a conference/concert titled "Lou Harrison: Gamelan" from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, with the Wesleyan University Gamelan, Eva Soltes, and Harrison scholar Bill Alves. 

But things really move into high gear on Saturday, when the Post Classical Ensemble presents a concert titled "Sublime Confluence: The Music of Lou Harrison," which includes the composer's Concerto for Piano and Javanese Gamelan, Bubaran Robert for Trumpet and Javanese Gamelan, Strict Songs for chorus and orchestra, and his Piano Concerto. Saturday night at 8 pm at Lisner Auditorium.

For more info, click here.